Image analysis of adolescent suicide prevention campaigns: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: to analyze images disseminated in suicide prevention campaigns by representative health bodies of Latin American countries. Methods: a descriptive study with a qualitative approach supported by the image analysis perspective. The textual corpus comprised suicide prevention campaign posters by representative governmental and non-governmental organizations of Latin America. The data were collected and organized based on the steps proposed by image analysis. Results: six posters were analyzed, leading to 9 sub-themes that built a single theme: Suicide prevention, which was the principle of the disseminated knowledge. Conclusion: the disseminated messages dealt with the main issues which this theme entails and important points to be worked on by nurses and other health professionals through iconic, plastic, and linguistic signs that dialogue with adolescents, contributing to the construction of future suicide prevention posters.